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NATO Invitation To Montenegro Prompts Warning From Russia

NATO Invitation To Montenegro Prompts Incites Russian Response

NATO invited tiny Montenegro to join the the US-led military alliance in its first expansion since 2009.

The decision, described by Nato head Jens Stoltenberg as "historic", comes 16 years after the alliance bombed Montenegro during the Kosovo war, when it was still part of Yugoslavia.

Montenegro's accession would result in "retaliatory actions", said a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia, which has traditionally strong religious, cultural and historic influence in the Balkans, has been opposed to Montenegro's membership bid, fuelling anti-NATO sentiments among many Montenegrins.

Several protests by thousands of people in the capital, Podgorica, against the pro-Nato government have turned violent recently.

Montenegro, with a population of just over 600,000, split from much bigger Serbia in 2006. The current Serbian right-wing government has said it has no intention of joining Nato, although it maintains close relations with the alliance and wants to become a European Union member.

"Inviting Montenegro is a big day for the Western Balkans as well," MR Djukanovic said. "I believe this will be the wind in the sails for reform and integration processes in the neighbourhood. Our country's membership in Nato will strongly contribute to regional stability and security."

Montenegro prime minister Milo Djukanovic has said Nato's membership invitation represents a historic day for the tiny Adriatic state, the most important since the 2006 independence referendum.